Lighting virgin-I need your help!

[michika]

How about I just explain the differences, as I understand them between T5 and MH. Then anyone else can chime in, especially if they know better, or have more information to provide.

MH - Pros
-Heat - May use your heater less
- Lots of Bulb choices and ballasts to choose from, each giving you a different result in color.
- Cheaper then T5s on initial set up in most cases.

MH - Cons
- Heat - May heat your tank up too much.
- Bulb replacement, bulbs must be replaced at least once a year.
- Bulb color, eventually bulb color can shift and your light won't be the same initial color.

T5 Pros
- Bulbs don't change color (so I've heard)
- Replacement cost of bulbs is considerably cheaper (again this may change with each setup)
- Can get the same or equal type of growth as you would get from a MH.
- Less power draw
- May not heat up your tank as much as MHs, although again it depends on how many bulbs and how close to the water they are.
- Bulbs only need replacing about every two years (again, something I heard)

T5 Cons
- Initial set up cost, is up there...
- Need individual reflectors for best light output, so there is more cleaning/maintenance required then just one MH reflector.

Thats about all I've got for you so far...